Thursday 17 April 2014 —Taking time to celebrate
David Meates
Every day I come across stories from across the Canterbury Health System which are inspiring and exciting. Since the earthquakes the pace of change has accelerated significantly, and this in turn has led to remarkable progress and innovation. It’s fair to say that it has also led to many headaches as we find ways to support people in buildings that have severe earthquake damage, are undergoing repair or are no longer fit for purpose.
The Site Redevelopment Team have been our unsung heroes over the past three and a half years. They are a small team of less than a dozen people, and are responsible for major building construction and building redevelopment work across the CDHB, including all earthquake repairs. At any one time they are juggling many balls in the air –working out how to decant from one space to another during repair work, building new facilities, dealing with the logistics of repairing busy operating theatres, and making sense of hefty engineers’ reports. What makes their job so challenging is that unlike building a new supermarket, the CDHB can’t just close its doors and re-open in six months’ time. The Site Redevelopment team’s challenge, and their skill, is working with affected staff to find innovative solutions to very tricky logistical challenges. It’s important to remember the extent of the challenge – we have identified more than $518 million worth of quakerelated repairs, and sustained damage to more than 200 buildings and over 14,000 out of 16,000 rooms. The variety of work they are currently involved in is staggering. It currently includes: Overseeing the development of a new integrated family health centre in Kaikoura The redevelopment of the Fergusson building at Hillmorton The expansion of Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) The relocation of the Central Sterile Services Department to Christchurch Women’s Hospital The construction of the new Child Haematology Oncology Centre (CHOC) The relocation of Club 304 Day Unit from Burwood Hospital to Linwood Avenue. The redevelopment of Rangiora Hospital into the Rangiora Health Hub. The redevelopment of the theatre facilities, acute assessment unit and the refurbishment of some ward areas at Ashburton Hospital. The refurbishment of Lyndhurst Hospital The relocation of social workers to Stewart St The demolition of 41 St Asaph Street to make way for the new public car park. Alterations to the cafeteria area at TPMH Major earthquake repairs at Christchurch Hospital, TPMH, Burwood Hospital, and Hillmorton Hospital (over $35M to date)
The team are also involved in the development of numerous design and cost exercises needed to inform decisions on various building options, before final authorisation by the Board. While this is an impressive list, possibly more impressive is the amount of work completed since the earthquakes. The list is also a long one, with highlights including: The new Acute Medical Assessment Unit Demolitions at 45 St Asaph Street, Totara House, Hagley Hostel, part of the old Lyndhurst Clinic, the Maintenance and Engineering building at TPMH, The Christchurch Hospital boiler house chimney (whilst the plant remained operational), the Hillmorton chimney, Additional Parkside Wards on level two and three The development of a temporary Staff Car Park on the Old Brewery site. The refurbishment and upgrade of Tuarangi Home in Ashburton The repair, refurbishment and strengthening of Whakatata House Repairs underway at The Princess Margaret Hospital. Establishment of temporary wards at TPMH, to allow decanting from Riverside—now moved back to Christ
church Hospital. The reconfiguration of the Adult Inpatient Unit at Hillmorton into four separate wards (whilst the building remained operational). The design and construction of the current outpatients facility on the site of the old Hagley hostel (completed in 7 months).
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